Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Zhao Heng could never have anticipated Song Qingying would begin with such a statement! He instinctively moved aside, looking at Song Qingying in disbelief, "What did you say? If you're not Song Qingying, then who are you?"

Song Qingying pouted innocently at Zhao Heng, "You said you wouldn't be scared, I'm not a ghost." She leaned closer to Zhao Heng, who stood up and moved away from the bed.

Song Qingying grasped at air, feeling even more wronged, "Why are you avoiding me? You said you wouldn't be afraid or blame me."

Zhao Heng stared at Song Qingying, puzzled by her claim of not being Song Qingying. "Then who are you? How could Lady Song and the Song family not recognize you? I remember Lady Song has visited you in the palace; how can you not be Song Qingying?"

"Stop staring at me like that... Do you still want to listen or not?" Song Qingying whispered.

"You said you're not Song Qingying, then who exactly are you?" Zhao Heng was filled with questions after recent events with several women.

Song Qingying approached Zhao Heng, took his hand, and looked up to say, "I am just me. No matter who I am, you've felt my heart, right?"

"But you must tell me, who are you exactly?" Zhao Heng was not swayed by Song Qingying's sweet facade; his mind was full of doubts waiting for her to clarify.

"So whatever I say, will you believe me?" Song Qingying was afraid Zhao Heng might burn her at the stake as a demon.

Zhao Heng nodded, "Speak, I will believe whatever you say."

Song Qingying thought for a moment, pulled Zhao Heng to the desk, and picked up one of the books the Consort had sent her.

"Your Majesty knows what this is, right?" Song Qingying said.

"It's just a book. Is there something special about it?" Zhao Heng was puzzled.

Holding the book with a worried expression, Song Qingying struggled to find the words, finally saying, "Let me put it this way, Your Majesty. I once read a book titled 'The Chronicles of Favor', and you and your Great Liang Dynasty are characters and events from within that book. Somehow, I ended up inside this book too, becoming Song Qingying. Do you understand now?"

"I don't understand." Zhao Heng was truly baffled. He was himself; how could he be a character in a book?

"Well... let's say, for example, we are reading this book right now, this storybook." Song Qingying tapped the book, "This book tells a story of a poor scholar who abandons his loyal wife after becoming the top scholar. We are the readers, right? But somehow, we end up inside the book. For instance, I became that loyal wife, and you became that poor scholar. Does that make sense to you now?"

Frowning, Zhao Heng said, "I've only heard of immortals in paintings, people coming out of paintings, but never of people entering books. So to you, I was originally a character in a book?"

Song Qingying nodded vigorously, "Exactly, into the book! I wasn't originally from this book, but somehow, I ended up in it. So, I am not the original Song Qingying. Now you understand, right? If you thought I was hiding something from you, this is it..."

"This... is too incredible." Compared to what Song Qingying was saying, what Yang Ningyu and Liu Meiren said was not strange at all.

"That's why I was afraid to tell you..." Song Qingying lowered her head.

"Then where are you originally from? According to you, we are now inside a book, so what's outside of it?" Zhao Heng asked.

Song Qingying looked at Zhao Heng with difficulty, "It's complicated. I don't know how to explain it to you..."

"Just say it. Could it be more incredible than what you've just told me?" Zhao Heng said.

Song Qingying nodded, "Outside of this book is completely different... It would take days and nights to explain."

Zhao Heng looked at Song Qingying, both clearly alive and real. He remembered Song Qingying knew about his poisoning, "So, is that how you knew about my poisoning? Did you intentionally tell me?"

Song Qingying nodded awkwardly.

"What exactly does the book say? Tell me in detail," Zhao Heng said.

Feeling that since it was all out in the open, it was better to tell everything, whether they lived or died was up to fate. "The book is quite long. Should we sit down and talk about it slowly?"

Zhao Heng looked at Song Qingying and nodded. Although he understood her words, he couldn't fully accept them, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

They sat down by the bed again. Seeing Zhao Heng's dazed look, Song Qingying guessed he was struggling to accept it. She leaned closer and took his hand: "You're still you, alive and real. This world has nothing to do with the one I came from. I am also real, regardless of my past, now I am Song Qingying, your consort."

Zhao Heng, seeing the sincerity and concern in Song Qingying's eyes, felt somewhat reassured. He smiled at her and nodded.

Seeing Zhao Heng smile, Song Qingying also smiled: "Let's lie down and talk. It might take all night. I'll tell you anything you want to know, okay?"

Zhao Heng nodded again, eager to learn everything about Song Qingying's original world.

As they lay down, unlike before when intimacy would have been immediate, they lay quietly, separated by a small gap. Song Qingying felt as if their relationship had reset, or perhaps become even more distant, especially considering Zhao Heng's feelings for Yang Ningyu.

Song Qingying cleared her throat: "Before I start, I need to confirm one thing. Regardless of who I was, I am now Song Qingying, and my feelings for you are genuine. Please, you must believe me. Even if I was initially scared and cautious, my love for you now is wholehearted."

"I believe you," Zhao Heng said.

Song Qingying internally sighed, noticing Zhao Heng's formal use of "I," a departure from his previous more personal address.

"The book I mentioned, 'The Chronicles of Favor,' is actually about Yang Ningyu's journey from a mere talent to a favored consort," Song Qingying explained, "It details how Yang Ningyu rose step by step."

Zhao Heng had an epiphany, realizing Liu Meiren and Yang Ningyu's accounts matched.

"And you? Or... Song Qingying?" Zhao Heng asked.

"Song Qingying was just a minor character who died early in the story, framed by Consort Song for offending the Virtuous Consort and executed. The Song Qingying in the book never even met you before she died," Song Qingying said regretfully.

The details matched again. Each time Zhao Heng heard about Song Qingying's early death, he felt unease. He moved closer to Song Qingying, comforted by her unique fragrance.

Song Qingying, noticing Zhao Heng's approach, also moved closer to him.

"When I found myself in Song Qingying's body, I was already in the palace and terrified of being exposed or not surviving the palace intrigues. Luckily, I knew what would happen next, so Consort Song's plans to harm me failed. Because I became Song Qingying, events unfolded differently from the book. Originally, Yang Ningyu discovered your poisoning and cured you, which won her your favor and her son the title of crown prince."

"Let's not talk about Yang Ningyu anymore. Tell me something else," Zhao Heng interrupted, having heard enough about her.

Song Qingying laughed: "But the book is mainly about her. I went to read it because of her, who else should I talk about?"

Zhao Heng huffed, "You read the book for her sake, not for mine."

Song Qingying was drenched in sweat, puzzled by this unexpected jealousy.

"Alright, alright, I won't mention her anymore. But without mentioning her, there's not much left to talk about. When I was reading, I mostly skimmed through parts except for the ones involving her," Song Qingying explained.

"So when you heard that Yang Ningyu had entered the palace and I had embraced her, you reacted so strongly?" Zhao Heng pinpointed the crux of the matter.

Embarrassed, Song Qingying chuckled: "Of course, you were already mine by then. I was afraid she might steal you away, especially since you liked her so much initially."

Zhao Heng liked hearing this, leaning closer to Song Qingying: "I never liked her; what's in the book is in the book, and I am myself."

Song Qingying, delighted by his words, turned to embrace Zhao Heng: "Hmm."

"Is there anything else of importance in the book, aside from the harem affairs?" Zhao Heng inquired, thinking it would save him trouble if he could identify who in the court were loyal and who harbored ill intentions.

"The book is primarily about the harem, not much about the previous dynasty's affairs. The biggest events are Prince Gong's rebellion and, oh, the Empress instigating the Crown Prince to stage a coup," Song Qingying shared.

It all matched up, thought Zhao Heng. It seemed that Lady Liu hadn't lied.

"Sounds like a dull book," Zhao Heng commented. "I'm more curious about the world you came from."

Song Qingying propped herself up on the bed, resting her chin on her arms, and looked at Zhao Heng: "You believe what I said, then."

"I believe because I believe, but as you said, I am myself, unrelated to that book. It was merely a catalyst that brought you to my side," Zhao Heng pulled Song Qingying into his embrace.

Song Qingying, moved by his words, planted a kiss on Zhao Heng's face: "You're so kind! I was afraid you'd consider me a heretic and burn me at the stake!"

Had Zhao Heng not heard the words of Lady Liu and Yang Ningyu first, he might have found it hard to believe Song Qingying's story. He hugged her tightly: "How could I bear to do that."

"I knew you were the best!" Song Qingying snuggled into Zhao Heng's embrace.

"What was your name before?" Zhao Heng asked softly.

"Qin Ying, so calling me Xiao Ying'er isn't wrong," Song Qingying replied.

"Xiao Ying'er, tell me about your world," Zhao Heng kissed Song Qingying's hair.

Song Qingying chuckled, "I'll share one thing with you: in my world, a man can only marry one wife and cannot take concubines."